Farm First Newsletter June 2012
Friday, 8 June 2012
Thursday, 10 May 2012
Farm First Newsletter – May 2012
IBR Vaccination Offers
For those of you who didn’t make it to our meeting last week, there has been new research on IBR vaccines which has shown that the best protection for herds is given by following the protocol below:
1st dose - IBR Marker live (either IM or intranasal)
2nd dose – (within 6 months) IBR marker inactivated (IM). The inactivated dose is then repeated annually. To get the best protection all animals (heifers and cows) should have the same course of vaccines, with heifers started before they go to the bull.
The usual (pay at time) prices for these vaccines are:
IBR Marker live 10 dose £25.31-£2.53/dose,
IBR marker live 50 dose £126.-£2.52/dose
IBR marker inactivated £25.19- £2.51/dose.
Pfizer, one of the companies that makes an IBR vaccine has some offers available on the above vaccines which reduce the price significantly, so if you are interested please phone the practice to discuss
Calvings - When to Call the Vet
There are unfortunately no fail-safe rules that indicate that a calf will have a normal delivery, but here are some rules that might help decision making. The calf may be too big to deliver if:
1. The body of the calf will not enter the pelvic canal, especially if the bone of the calf is pressing against the bone of the cow.
2. The front legs are forced to cross over as they enter the pelvic canal, due to the size restriction of the canal.
When coming forwards, it is a good sign if there is room to put your hand above the calf’s head as it enters the pelvic canal.
If the calf is coming forwards, it’s best if two people pull on a rope, pulling one leg at a time. If BOTH legs can be pulled out so that more than a hands breadth above the fetlock are sticking out of the vagina, then the calf should come (using the jack).
If the calf is coming backwards, if both back legs can be pulled out by two men so that a hand’s breadth above the hock is visible outside the cow’s vagina, then it should come (always check other signs as well).
Other things to check:
• If coming backwards, check that the calf’s tail is tucked down between its legs and not sticking upwards.
• If the soft tissue ring of the cervix is catching on the calf (usually on the head if coming forwards), see if you can push it back over the head with your hand, rather than just pulling against it.
• If unsure, do not risk the cow going down in the crush.
• For big calves coming forwards, rotate the calf 45 degrees after the chest has been delivered, to reduce the chance of the calf’s hips getting stuck in the pelvic canal.
• Calving may be easier when the cow is lying down.
• Use plenty of lubricant.
Remember a healthy non-traumatised calf with good vitality should;
a )be active and able to lift his head within a few minutes of birth
b) should be able to achieve sternal recumbancy within 5 minutes(sit up on his chest)
c) should be attempting to stand within 15 minutes and standing within 1 hour
d) suckling should commence within 2 hours(and ideally sooner!)
Ram Vasectomies
A vasectomised (teaser) ram can be used to bring your ewes into season before your tups go out. Not only does this enhance fertility it can also be a great way of tightening your lambing period. The ewe flock is isolated for at least one month from sight, smell and hearing of rams or wethers, after which a vasectomised ram is put with the flock for a period of 12 days. The ram is then removed and replaced by normal rams. Provided the ewes were on the point of cycling, this results in a close compacted lambing, usually in two peak periods some six to eight days apart.
Once a ram is vasectomised he should not be used for at least 8 weeks as he may still be fertile, so if you want a ram to be vasectomised for use this year, we should be operating on him in the very near future. Vasectomies can be performed on farm or at the practice. The cost is £74 + vat, with significant reductions for multiple vasectomies
Farming Connect
Just a reminder that if you register your farm with Farming Connect you can get 80% funding for up to 5 days consultancy on your farm. Rob, Andrew and Jane are all registered consultants with the scheme and so far our clients have used the grants to fund DairyCo mastitis and lameness investigations and Beef and Sheep Health Plans. We are keen to make the most of this funding while it is available, so if there is an issue on your farm that you would like to get to the bottom of, please give us a ring to discuss how we can help. It’s worth just registering with Farming Connect even if you are in no hurry to access the funding, because if you hit a disease issue for which we could utilise the funding, it speeds up the application process considerably.
Meetings
Rob will be speaking at a meeting on June 13th at the Hogs Head at 7.30 pm. The subject of the meeting is “Worming Strategies for Beef and Sheep Farmers”.
Breaking Practice News
Andrew has just announced that he and his wife Ana are expecting their third baby. I know you will all wish to join us in congratulating them both! We think they might be going for a rugby team. Robert has decided that he obviously isn’t working Andrew hard enough so if any of you have any castrating or dehorning(especially of adult animals)you would like done, please could you ring in and we will get Andrew to come along do the necessary(that should sort him out!-Rob)
IBR Vaccination Offers
For those of you who didn’t make it to our meeting last week, there has been new research on IBR vaccines which has shown that the best protection for herds is given by following the protocol below:
1st dose - IBR Marker live (either IM or intranasal)
2nd dose – (within 6 months) IBR marker inactivated (IM). The inactivated dose is then repeated annually. To get the best protection all animals (heifers and cows) should have the same course of vaccines, with heifers started before they go to the bull.
The usual (pay at time) prices for these vaccines are:
IBR Marker live 10 dose £25.31-£2.53/dose,
IBR marker live 50 dose £126.-£2.52/dose
IBR marker inactivated £25.19- £2.51/dose.
Pfizer, one of the companies that makes an IBR vaccine has some offers available on the above vaccines which reduce the price significantly, so if you are interested please phone the practice to discuss
Calvings - When to Call the Vet
There are unfortunately no fail-safe rules that indicate that a calf will have a normal delivery, but here are some rules that might help decision making. The calf may be too big to deliver if:
1. The body of the calf will not enter the pelvic canal, especially if the bone of the calf is pressing against the bone of the cow.
2. The front legs are forced to cross over as they enter the pelvic canal, due to the size restriction of the canal.
When coming forwards, it is a good sign if there is room to put your hand above the calf’s head as it enters the pelvic canal.
If the calf is coming forwards, it’s best if two people pull on a rope, pulling one leg at a time. If BOTH legs can be pulled out so that more than a hands breadth above the fetlock are sticking out of the vagina, then the calf should come (using the jack).
If the calf is coming backwards, if both back legs can be pulled out by two men so that a hand’s breadth above the hock is visible outside the cow’s vagina, then it should come (always check other signs as well).
Other things to check:
• If coming backwards, check that the calf’s tail is tucked down between its legs and not sticking upwards.
• If the soft tissue ring of the cervix is catching on the calf (usually on the head if coming forwards), see if you can push it back over the head with your hand, rather than just pulling against it.
• If unsure, do not risk the cow going down in the crush.
• For big calves coming forwards, rotate the calf 45 degrees after the chest has been delivered, to reduce the chance of the calf’s hips getting stuck in the pelvic canal.
• Calving may be easier when the cow is lying down.
• Use plenty of lubricant.
Remember a healthy non-traumatised calf with good vitality should;
a )be active and able to lift his head within a few minutes of birth
b) should be able to achieve sternal recumbancy within 5 minutes(sit up on his chest)
c) should be attempting to stand within 15 minutes and standing within 1 hour
d) suckling should commence within 2 hours(and ideally sooner!)
Ram Vasectomies
A vasectomised (teaser) ram can be used to bring your ewes into season before your tups go out. Not only does this enhance fertility it can also be a great way of tightening your lambing period. The ewe flock is isolated for at least one month from sight, smell and hearing of rams or wethers, after which a vasectomised ram is put with the flock for a period of 12 days. The ram is then removed and replaced by normal rams. Provided the ewes were on the point of cycling, this results in a close compacted lambing, usually in two peak periods some six to eight days apart.
Once a ram is vasectomised he should not be used for at least 8 weeks as he may still be fertile, so if you want a ram to be vasectomised for use this year, we should be operating on him in the very near future. Vasectomies can be performed on farm or at the practice. The cost is £74 + vat, with significant reductions for multiple vasectomies
Farming Connect
Just a reminder that if you register your farm with Farming Connect you can get 80% funding for up to 5 days consultancy on your farm. Rob, Andrew and Jane are all registered consultants with the scheme and so far our clients have used the grants to fund DairyCo mastitis and lameness investigations and Beef and Sheep Health Plans. We are keen to make the most of this funding while it is available, so if there is an issue on your farm that you would like to get to the bottom of, please give us a ring to discuss how we can help. It’s worth just registering with Farming Connect even if you are in no hurry to access the funding, because if you hit a disease issue for which we could utilise the funding, it speeds up the application process considerably.
Meetings
Rob will be speaking at a meeting on June 13th at the Hogs Head at 7.30 pm. The subject of the meeting is “Worming Strategies for Beef and Sheep Farmers”.
Breaking Practice News
Andrew has just announced that he and his wife Ana are expecting their third baby. I know you will all wish to join us in congratulating them both! We think they might be going for a rugby team. Robert has decided that he obviously isn’t working Andrew hard enough so if any of you have any castrating or dehorning(especially of adult animals)you would like done, please could you ring in and we will get Andrew to come along do the necessary(that should sort him out!-Rob)
Tuesday, 3 April 2012
Farm First Newsletter April 2012.
Schmallenburg Update
Schmallenberg virus (SBV) infection has been identified on 235 farms in GB. Twenty five of the positive cases have been diagnosed in cattle, 210 in sheep, and none to date in other species such as goats, camelids or deer. Currently, SBV infection has only been identified in areas predicted to be at risk of midge incursion from Northern Europe during summer / autumn 2011. The possibility that domestic (local) midges may have transmitted SBV within the affected areas cannot be ruled out according to AHVLA. The figures are correct as of 30 March 2012. The virus causes stillbirths and deformities of foetuses. It is almost certainly transmitted by biting insects, so control is problematic. A stringent fly control policy will be the best way (though by no means foolproof) to try to reduce transmission via the insect population. The main fly control products have an 8-week period of persistency, and ideally they should be applied earlier than normal this year and reapplied at the 8-week intervals throughout the spring and summer.
We would urge all producers where a suspicious case arises, to take advantage of the confidential reporting service offered by AHVLA. Information on the current disease situation in Great Britain is published on the AHVLA website at: http://www.defra.gov.uk/ahvla/news Please contact us at the surgery for more advice.
Milk Fever Prevention and Bovikalk Offer
Clinical milk fever is thought to affect between 4-9% of the UK’s dairy cows, while evidence suggests the subclinical form (hypocalcaemia) can affect up to 39%. It is also seen regularly in beef cows, especially in older cows originating from a dairy herd. This need not be the case however as milk fever is preventable. Clinical cases serve as an indicator that other cows in the herd could be suffering at a sub-clinical level. Hypocalcaemia has numerous links to health and productivity post-calving e.g. milk fever increases the risk of dystocia by three times and increases the risk of mastitis in the following lactation by eight times.
Clinical and subclinical milk fever can, to a large extent, be prevented through dietary management and nutrition. However there are situations or cases where the risk of milk fever is increased. High yielding multiparous dairy cows and those with a previous history of milk fever are counted amongst this at risk group. For these individuals oral calcium can be supplied prior to the risk period. Bovikalc® is an oral calcium supplement bolus containing calcium chloride and calcium sulphate. Each bolus provides 42g of available calcium, in rapid release and slow release forms, as well as having an acidifying effect to help the cow to mobilise her own calcium reserves.
How to use Bovikalc to reduce the risk of milk fever in “at risk” cows: Around the time of calving: Give the first bolus immediately prior to calving, give the second bolus immediately after calving and follow up with 2 further boluses at 12-15 hour intervals as necessary .
Following treatment of a clinical case: Give the first bolus 2-3 hours after calcium injection, give the second bolus 12-15 hours later.
Bovicalk boluses should be given with the Bovikalk metal applicator, and there is currently an offer on Bovikalc Farmer Spring Pack. These contain 6 packs of 4 boluses and a FREE METAL BOLUS GUN. Cost for one of these Bovikalc Farmer Packs is £110.81+VAT (pay at time or contract price).These packs are limited in number, so reply quickly to take advantage of the offer.
Fluid Therapy in Lambs
Unlike scouring calves, lambs are rarely given oral rehydration therapy (ORT). The benefits of ORT are replacement of electrolytes lost in diarrhoea and reversal of acidosis, both of which contribute to deaths in these lambs. There is now a product, REHYDION, which can be added to milk fed to lambs and the milk will still clot. Adding 2ml per 100 ml of milk (20 ml/litre) helps maintain electrolytes and acid-base balance, whilst the milk provides the fluid and energy requirements. One bottle contains 320 ml, enough for 160 administrations. It is easy to use and costs less than 10p per dose. As well as for scouring lambs the product can also be used in the treatment of watery mouth.
Risk of Staggers
Just a reminder that we're coming up to the peak risk period for Staggers, and that cows should have a constant, daily supply of magnesium at turnout. It is also useful to have a couple of bottles of magnesium sulphate to hand in case any cows are affected, as rapid deaths can occur. A bottle should be given under the skin in several sites to allow for faster absorption, whilst you are awaiting the arrival of a vet.
Dates for Your Diary
There will be a talk on IBR for our dairy clients at 12.30 pm on Thursday 26th April, at the King of Prussia. Please contact the surgery to book your place.
Rob and Jane will be doing a talk for Farming Connect on “The Responsible Use of Medicines”at The Huntsman, Shirenewton 7.30 pm on the 19th of April.
Rob will be doing a talk for Farming Connect at the Hogshead Pub on the 13th June on Worming Strategies for Beef and Sheep(7.30pm start).
For any goat owners there will be Health and Welfare Workshop at the Royal Welsh Showground on Wednesday 2nd May .Please contact Sian Lloyd on 01970 617309 or Lynne Holmes on 01522 751374 or email sian.lloyd@adas.co.uk
***************************Newsflash ***************************
Free coccidiosis testing for dairy calves and lambs. Please contact the surgery for details.
Practice Organisation
I would like to inform all our clients that from the beginning of April Jane will become a shareholder and director of Farm First Veterinary Services Ltd. Jane and I have worked on and off together for several years now and I hope that together we will continue to grow and improve the business. You may notice over the coming months that Jane becomes more and more grumpy, though I hope (for her sake) that the stress doesn’t make her as bald as me! As part of her preparation for management, she has also recently attended an assertiveness course, so watch out you lot!
Rob
Schmallenburg Update
Schmallenberg virus (SBV) infection has been identified on 235 farms in GB. Twenty five of the positive cases have been diagnosed in cattle, 210 in sheep, and none to date in other species such as goats, camelids or deer. Currently, SBV infection has only been identified in areas predicted to be at risk of midge incursion from Northern Europe during summer / autumn 2011. The possibility that domestic (local) midges may have transmitted SBV within the affected areas cannot be ruled out according to AHVLA. The figures are correct as of 30 March 2012. The virus causes stillbirths and deformities of foetuses. It is almost certainly transmitted by biting insects, so control is problematic. A stringent fly control policy will be the best way (though by no means foolproof) to try to reduce transmission via the insect population. The main fly control products have an 8-week period of persistency, and ideally they should be applied earlier than normal this year and reapplied at the 8-week intervals throughout the spring and summer.
We would urge all producers where a suspicious case arises, to take advantage of the confidential reporting service offered by AHVLA. Information on the current disease situation in Great Britain is published on the AHVLA website at: http://www.defra.gov.uk/ahvla/news Please contact us at the surgery for more advice.
Milk Fever Prevention and Bovikalk Offer
Clinical milk fever is thought to affect between 4-9% of the UK’s dairy cows, while evidence suggests the subclinical form (hypocalcaemia) can affect up to 39%. It is also seen regularly in beef cows, especially in older cows originating from a dairy herd. This need not be the case however as milk fever is preventable. Clinical cases serve as an indicator that other cows in the herd could be suffering at a sub-clinical level. Hypocalcaemia has numerous links to health and productivity post-calving e.g. milk fever increases the risk of dystocia by three times and increases the risk of mastitis in the following lactation by eight times.
Clinical and subclinical milk fever can, to a large extent, be prevented through dietary management and nutrition. However there are situations or cases where the risk of milk fever is increased. High yielding multiparous dairy cows and those with a previous history of milk fever are counted amongst this at risk group. For these individuals oral calcium can be supplied prior to the risk period. Bovikalc® is an oral calcium supplement bolus containing calcium chloride and calcium sulphate. Each bolus provides 42g of available calcium, in rapid release and slow release forms, as well as having an acidifying effect to help the cow to mobilise her own calcium reserves.
How to use Bovikalc to reduce the risk of milk fever in “at risk” cows: Around the time of calving: Give the first bolus immediately prior to calving, give the second bolus immediately after calving and follow up with 2 further boluses at 12-15 hour intervals as necessary .
Following treatment of a clinical case: Give the first bolus 2-3 hours after calcium injection, give the second bolus 12-15 hours later.
Bovicalk boluses should be given with the Bovikalk metal applicator, and there is currently an offer on Bovikalc Farmer Spring Pack. These contain 6 packs of 4 boluses and a FREE METAL BOLUS GUN. Cost for one of these Bovikalc Farmer Packs is £110.81+VAT (pay at time or contract price).These packs are limited in number, so reply quickly to take advantage of the offer.
Fluid Therapy in Lambs
Unlike scouring calves, lambs are rarely given oral rehydration therapy (ORT). The benefits of ORT are replacement of electrolytes lost in diarrhoea and reversal of acidosis, both of which contribute to deaths in these lambs. There is now a product, REHYDION, which can be added to milk fed to lambs and the milk will still clot. Adding 2ml per 100 ml of milk (20 ml/litre) helps maintain electrolytes and acid-base balance, whilst the milk provides the fluid and energy requirements. One bottle contains 320 ml, enough for 160 administrations. It is easy to use and costs less than 10p per dose. As well as for scouring lambs the product can also be used in the treatment of watery mouth.
Risk of Staggers
Just a reminder that we're coming up to the peak risk period for Staggers, and that cows should have a constant, daily supply of magnesium at turnout. It is also useful to have a couple of bottles of magnesium sulphate to hand in case any cows are affected, as rapid deaths can occur. A bottle should be given under the skin in several sites to allow for faster absorption, whilst you are awaiting the arrival of a vet.
Dates for Your Diary
There will be a talk on IBR for our dairy clients at 12.30 pm on Thursday 26th April, at the King of Prussia. Please contact the surgery to book your place.
Rob and Jane will be doing a talk for Farming Connect on “The Responsible Use of Medicines”at The Huntsman, Shirenewton 7.30 pm on the 19th of April.
Rob will be doing a talk for Farming Connect at the Hogshead Pub on the 13th June on Worming Strategies for Beef and Sheep(7.30pm start).
For any goat owners there will be Health and Welfare Workshop at the Royal Welsh Showground on Wednesday 2nd May .Please contact Sian Lloyd on 01970 617309 or Lynne Holmes on 01522 751374 or email sian.lloyd@adas.co.uk
***************************Newsflash ***************************
Free coccidiosis testing for dairy calves and lambs. Please contact the surgery for details.
Practice Organisation
I would like to inform all our clients that from the beginning of April Jane will become a shareholder and director of Farm First Veterinary Services Ltd. Jane and I have worked on and off together for several years now and I hope that together we will continue to grow and improve the business. You may notice over the coming months that Jane becomes more and more grumpy, though I hope (for her sake) that the stress doesn’t make her as bald as me! As part of her preparation for management, she has also recently attended an assertiveness course, so watch out you lot!
Rob
Tuesday, 13 March 2012
FARM FIRST NEWSLETTER MARCH 2012
NSAIDS-Pain-Killing and Anti-Inflammatory Drugs
These drugs have many uses in farm animals and we have several products licensed the cattle in stock. Unfortunately none of these products are licensed sheep, but they are widely used and the prescribing cascade. At this time of year ewes will benefit from treatment with NSAIDs after difficult lambings, or after having prolapses replaced. The reduction in swelling and discomfort will improve feed intake and therefore milk production, and help mothering behaviour. There is also evidence that one of the drugs, Flunixin, helps in the treatment of Twin Lamb Disease, although the mechanism for this is not known. NSAIDs are also beneficial in the treatment of mastitis in both cattle and sheep, and in the treatment of pneumonia. Rapid administration of NSAIDs as soon as the first signs of pneumonia are seen will help to reduce lung damage. The other main area where these drugs are indicated is in cases of lameness, when the reduction in pain will help to maintain mobility and feed intakes, and therefore production.
DRUG Dose Rate Cost /dose (75kg) Milk Withold
CATTLE CATTLE
FLUNIXIN 2ml/45kg i/v daily for 3-5-d(or IM ) £0.57 36 hrs
METACAM 1ml/40kg s/c single dose £1.86 (7days IM)
RIMADYL 1ml/35kg s/c single dose £1.84 120 hrs
Please note that as none of the products is licensed for use in sheep a standard withdrawal of 28 days for meat withhold must be applied. We advise using the same dose for sheep as you would in cattle and we are assuming the length of action is similar
Casualty stock
With the main lambing season about to begin dealing, with casualty stock inevitably becomes more commonplace. Treating casualty stock humanely is a legal requirement and in addition dealing with cases sensitively and responsibly is an essential part of maintaining the image of our industry. It is worth bearing in mind that Spring is a time when the public start to get out into the countryside more and in many cases we have casual labour helping out with lambing duties that may be entirely new to farming activities. Please follow this link to a very useful document produced by the Sheep Veterinary Society http://www.sheepvetsoc.org.uk/docs/Casualtysheep.pdf and remember that if dispatch is necessary then this should be done as humanely and compassionately as possible, with carcasses being kept secure and out of contact until disposal.
Leptavoid –H Boosters
Just a reminder that in herds which vaccinate against leptospirosis, cattle should be given their annual boosters before turnout in the spring. Any youngstock which have not been previously vaccinated require two doses to be given four weeks apart, and all replacements that are likely to be served this year should receive these two doses prior to turnout
FOOT TRIMMING COURSE
We are planning to hold a three day herdsman's trimming course in the near future on one of our clients’ farms. If you are interested in attending this course (or in hosting the event), please contact Andrew at the surgery for further details. Farming Connect grants of 80% will be available to cover the cost of the course fees.
Ram and Bull Fertility Testing
I’m sure ram and bull care is not top of your list of priorities at the moment as calves and lambs are hitting the floor with a vengeance, but just a reminder that Farming Connect are subsidising the cost of these checks to the value of £70/test for bulls and £50/test for rams. Every famer is entitled to one subsidised test per ram and bull per year for each registered CPH number you have. All you have to do is have the test done and then send a copy of the invoice in to Farming Connect and the money will be refunded.
Various studies have shown that 20% plus of bulls are subfertile or infertile. If a bull is subfertile then this will obviously have a marked effect on your calving spread even if you rotate bulls. In rams and bulls we examine them to ensure that they are healthy and there are no abnormalities of the important bits. We then electroejaculate them to get a semen sample which is examined under the microscope. In bulls, the test is relatively easy to carry out, we only require a good crush (one where we can access the bulls sheath) and a nearby shed with electricity to set up the microscope to examine the sample. The whole process only takes about 45 mins to an hour and initial results are available straight away. The cost is £80(+ vat) for the first bull examined and £60 for any additional bull tested.
A similar situation occurs with rams, though it’s not so easy to identify the problem ram as rams often work in groups. Fertility testing in rams involves a trip to the surgery and is similar though obviously much more straight forward. The cost is £55 for 1 ram and then £40 for each additional ram.
Hopefully if ram and bull fertility is up to spec then this will help you to have even more lambs and calves to contend with next year! Please phone and speak to Robert at the surgery if you are interested.
MEETINGS
Rob will be giving a talk on BVD and Johnes Disease in the Beef Herd organised by Farming Connect.. The meeting will be held at 7.30pm on Wednesday 14th March at the Star Inn in Llansoy.
On 21 March the Dairy Development Centre has organised a specialist event for dairy farmers on Johnes disease, which will be held at Cardiff City Stadium from 11 am until 3 pm. For further information please telephone 01554 748592.
TB Tests
AHVLA have informed us that they will be carrying out field audits at TB tests in Wales in the near future, to ensure that tests are being carried out according to official instructions. It is likely that AHVLA vets will turn up unannounced at some of our tests in the next few weeks.
NSAIDS-Pain-Killing and Anti-Inflammatory Drugs
These drugs have many uses in farm animals and we have several products licensed the cattle in stock. Unfortunately none of these products are licensed sheep, but they are widely used and the prescribing cascade. At this time of year ewes will benefit from treatment with NSAIDs after difficult lambings, or after having prolapses replaced. The reduction in swelling and discomfort will improve feed intake and therefore milk production, and help mothering behaviour. There is also evidence that one of the drugs, Flunixin, helps in the treatment of Twin Lamb Disease, although the mechanism for this is not known. NSAIDs are also beneficial in the treatment of mastitis in both cattle and sheep, and in the treatment of pneumonia. Rapid administration of NSAIDs as soon as the first signs of pneumonia are seen will help to reduce lung damage. The other main area where these drugs are indicated is in cases of lameness, when the reduction in pain will help to maintain mobility and feed intakes, and therefore production.
DRUG Dose Rate Cost /dose (75kg) Milk Withold
CATTLE CATTLE
FLUNIXIN 2ml/45kg i/v daily for 3-5-d(or IM ) £0.57 36 hrs
METACAM 1ml/40kg s/c single dose £1.86 (7days IM)
RIMADYL 1ml/35kg s/c single dose £1.84 120 hrs
Please note that as none of the products is licensed for use in sheep a standard withdrawal of 28 days for meat withhold must be applied. We advise using the same dose for sheep as you would in cattle and we are assuming the length of action is similar
Casualty stock
With the main lambing season about to begin dealing, with casualty stock inevitably becomes more commonplace. Treating casualty stock humanely is a legal requirement and in addition dealing with cases sensitively and responsibly is an essential part of maintaining the image of our industry. It is worth bearing in mind that Spring is a time when the public start to get out into the countryside more and in many cases we have casual labour helping out with lambing duties that may be entirely new to farming activities. Please follow this link to a very useful document produced by the Sheep Veterinary Society http://www.sheepvetsoc.org.uk/docs/Casualtysheep.pdf and remember that if dispatch is necessary then this should be done as humanely and compassionately as possible, with carcasses being kept secure and out of contact until disposal.
Leptavoid –H Boosters
Just a reminder that in herds which vaccinate against leptospirosis, cattle should be given their annual boosters before turnout in the spring. Any youngstock which have not been previously vaccinated require two doses to be given four weeks apart, and all replacements that are likely to be served this year should receive these two doses prior to turnout
FOOT TRIMMING COURSE
We are planning to hold a three day herdsman's trimming course in the near future on one of our clients’ farms. If you are interested in attending this course (or in hosting the event), please contact Andrew at the surgery for further details. Farming Connect grants of 80% will be available to cover the cost of the course fees.
Ram and Bull Fertility Testing
I’m sure ram and bull care is not top of your list of priorities at the moment as calves and lambs are hitting the floor with a vengeance, but just a reminder that Farming Connect are subsidising the cost of these checks to the value of £70/test for bulls and £50/test for rams. Every famer is entitled to one subsidised test per ram and bull per year for each registered CPH number you have. All you have to do is have the test done and then send a copy of the invoice in to Farming Connect and the money will be refunded.
Various studies have shown that 20% plus of bulls are subfertile or infertile. If a bull is subfertile then this will obviously have a marked effect on your calving spread even if you rotate bulls. In rams and bulls we examine them to ensure that they are healthy and there are no abnormalities of the important bits. We then electroejaculate them to get a semen sample which is examined under the microscope. In bulls, the test is relatively easy to carry out, we only require a good crush (one where we can access the bulls sheath) and a nearby shed with electricity to set up the microscope to examine the sample. The whole process only takes about 45 mins to an hour and initial results are available straight away. The cost is £80(+ vat) for the first bull examined and £60 for any additional bull tested.
A similar situation occurs with rams, though it’s not so easy to identify the problem ram as rams often work in groups. Fertility testing in rams involves a trip to the surgery and is similar though obviously much more straight forward. The cost is £55 for 1 ram and then £40 for each additional ram.
Hopefully if ram and bull fertility is up to spec then this will help you to have even more lambs and calves to contend with next year! Please phone and speak to Robert at the surgery if you are interested.
MEETINGS
Rob will be giving a talk on BVD and Johnes Disease in the Beef Herd organised by Farming Connect.. The meeting will be held at 7.30pm on Wednesday 14th March at the Star Inn in Llansoy.
On 21 March the Dairy Development Centre has organised a specialist event for dairy farmers on Johnes disease, which will be held at Cardiff City Stadium from 11 am until 3 pm. For further information please telephone 01554 748592.
TB Tests
AHVLA have informed us that they will be carrying out field audits at TB tests in Wales in the near future, to ensure that tests are being carried out according to official instructions. It is likely that AHVLA vets will turn up unannounced at some of our tests in the next few weeks.
Tuesday, 7 February 2012
Farm First Newsletter February 2012
Treatment of Hypothermia in Lambs
Hypothermia results from a combination of heat loss and starvation. Adequate shelter should be provided outdoors, and indoor pens should be draught-free. Severely affected lambs have an arched back, hollow flanks and a lowered head, with a rectal temperature below 37 °C. If less than 5 hours old these lambs can be dried, warmed to 37°C, fed colostrum, warmed to 39°C and returned to the ewe. However, if they are over 5 hours old they will need an intraperitoneal injection of 20% glucose at a rate of 10ml/kg to help them recover. After this they should be dried, warmed and fed as for the younger lambs.
For further information in this subject, including how to perform intraperitoneal injections, please contact us at the surgery on 01873 840167 or call in for a fact sheet.
Managing the Calf in Cold Weather
Calves which are underfed and energy deficient are at high risk of developing common diseases such as scours and pneumonia. This is because at low or negative growth rates the immune system will no be maturing rapidly enough to provide adequate protection from infectious disease. Calves can be body condition scored (BCS) by feeling for the amount of tissue covering the bones of the back and pelvis. If the BCS of healthy calves 2-3 weeks old is less than a newborn calves, it is likely that they have been energy deficient due to inadequate feeding.
Calves need energy for both maintenance and growth, and energy requirements increase significantly in a cold environment. The Lower Critical Temperature (LCT) is the environmental temperature at which animals start using extra energy to maintain normal body temperature. Calves under three weeks old have an LCT of 20°C, below this they will be using energy to keep warm and when temperatures drop to the 0°C they require 40% more energy for maintenance.
The volume of milk required for maintenance increases significantly as temperatures decline. A calf fed 2l twice-daily at 16°C will gain weight, but below 4°C it will start losing weight. Therefore, more milk must be given during cold weather particularly to younger calves which are only consuming small amounts of solid feed. The energy content of milk depends on the level of milk solids it contains, and the total quantity of milk solids that is fed can be increased in the following ways:
• increase the volume of milk given at each feed or add an extra daily feed
• increase the dry matter content of the milk e.g. mix milk powder at 160 g/l rather than 125 g/l
• feed milk from cows for the first four days after calving to the youngest calves
• use a milk replacer with adequate fat content (20%) in winter
• larger calves require more energy than smaller calves, so feed accordingly
The energy requirements of calves can be reduced with well-designed housing. It is important to strike a balance between providing good ventilation and avoiding excessive air movements at calf level. Provide clean dry straw so that they can "nest" down into it, as body heat is lost rapidly when lying on a damp, poorly-drained bed. Sick calves require additional energy to overcome infection.
Metabolic Profiling of Ewes
If sheep are blood sampled in the last 2-3 weeks before lambing to check their energy/protein and mineral status, the feeding of ewes in the last weeks can be adjusted to better suit energy requirements and avoid problems The BHB levels in groups of 5 ewes carrying singles, doubles and triplets should be sampled to allow increases (or decreases) in concentrates in the last weeks before lambing to be accurately defined. This results in more economic use of concentrates, optimum birth weights and good lamb viability, and allows early identification of ewes at risk of Twin Lamb Disease. Protein feeding in late pregnancy has a significant effect on milk production and therefore lamb health and growth rate. Blood testing will monitor both the longer-term aspects of protein nutrition, and the more immediate question of rumen degradable protein shortages, which are increasingly common in housed sheep.
Blood sampling should be done 2-3 weeks before lambing is due to start so that dietary changes can be made in time. The lab. Fees for testing up to 20 ewes are only £85(including post, packing and interpretation). Magnesium and copper tests are included in this package.
Schmallenberg Virus
This virus has now been reported on four sheep farms in Norfolk, Suffolk and East Sussex. Congenital defects have been seen in aborted and newborn lambs, calves and goat kids. Affected animals have had twisted joints, limbs and neck and are usually born dead or die soon afterwards. Some animals have shown signs of in coordination, paralysis and dullness due to fluid filled sacs in the brain. In adult cattle, fever and reduced milk yield of up to 50% for a week has been reported, in some cases with severe diarrhoea. If you have animals with the suspicious signs on your farm please contact us at the surgery or AHVLA.
Orf Vaccine
If Orf is a problem on your farm now is the time to consider vaccination. We have been informed by the manufacturers of the vaccine, Scabivax Forte, that there are no supply problems this year. The vaccine should only be used if there is a history of Orf on the farm. The vaccine is administered by a special applicator which scratches the skin and injects. A scab should be formed at the site of vaccination within 14 days – if not then they may have not been vaccinated correctly.
In an infected flock, pregnant ewes should be vaccinated not less than 7-8 weeks prior to lambing. If only baby lambs are vaccinated there is a small risk of spread to un-vaccinated ewes. If Orf is a problem in older lambs they can be vaccinated at turnout, or even later. Immunity lasts 6-8 months so the flock should then continue to be vaccinated once a year. The vaccine costs £27.27 + VAT for 50 doses (includes 10% pay at time discount).
Alamycin LA
If you have not vaccinated your ewes against Enzootic Abortion and have had the problem diagnosed in your flock, Alamycin LA can be given between day 90 and 120 of gestation to reduce the number of abortions and shedding of the organism. The dose is 1ml/10kg and a 100ml bottle costs £11.54 +VAT. There is a 10% discount for payment at the time, with larger discounts applied for the purchase of greater volumes.
Treatment of Hypothermia in Lambs
Hypothermia results from a combination of heat loss and starvation. Adequate shelter should be provided outdoors, and indoor pens should be draught-free. Severely affected lambs have an arched back, hollow flanks and a lowered head, with a rectal temperature below 37 °C. If less than 5 hours old these lambs can be dried, warmed to 37°C, fed colostrum, warmed to 39°C and returned to the ewe. However, if they are over 5 hours old they will need an intraperitoneal injection of 20% glucose at a rate of 10ml/kg to help them recover. After this they should be dried, warmed and fed as for the younger lambs.
For further information in this subject, including how to perform intraperitoneal injections, please contact us at the surgery on 01873 840167 or call in for a fact sheet.
Managing the Calf in Cold Weather
Calves which are underfed and energy deficient are at high risk of developing common diseases such as scours and pneumonia. This is because at low or negative growth rates the immune system will no be maturing rapidly enough to provide adequate protection from infectious disease. Calves can be body condition scored (BCS) by feeling for the amount of tissue covering the bones of the back and pelvis. If the BCS of healthy calves 2-3 weeks old is less than a newborn calves, it is likely that they have been energy deficient due to inadequate feeding.
Calves need energy for both maintenance and growth, and energy requirements increase significantly in a cold environment. The Lower Critical Temperature (LCT) is the environmental temperature at which animals start using extra energy to maintain normal body temperature. Calves under three weeks old have an LCT of 20°C, below this they will be using energy to keep warm and when temperatures drop to the 0°C they require 40% more energy for maintenance.
The volume of milk required for maintenance increases significantly as temperatures decline. A calf fed 2l twice-daily at 16°C will gain weight, but below 4°C it will start losing weight. Therefore, more milk must be given during cold weather particularly to younger calves which are only consuming small amounts of solid feed. The energy content of milk depends on the level of milk solids it contains, and the total quantity of milk solids that is fed can be increased in the following ways:
• increase the volume of milk given at each feed or add an extra daily feed
• increase the dry matter content of the milk e.g. mix milk powder at 160 g/l rather than 125 g/l
• feed milk from cows for the first four days after calving to the youngest calves
• use a milk replacer with adequate fat content (20%) in winter
• larger calves require more energy than smaller calves, so feed accordingly
The energy requirements of calves can be reduced with well-designed housing. It is important to strike a balance between providing good ventilation and avoiding excessive air movements at calf level. Provide clean dry straw so that they can "nest" down into it, as body heat is lost rapidly when lying on a damp, poorly-drained bed. Sick calves require additional energy to overcome infection.
Metabolic Profiling of Ewes
If sheep are blood sampled in the last 2-3 weeks before lambing to check their energy/protein and mineral status, the feeding of ewes in the last weeks can be adjusted to better suit energy requirements and avoid problems The BHB levels in groups of 5 ewes carrying singles, doubles and triplets should be sampled to allow increases (or decreases) in concentrates in the last weeks before lambing to be accurately defined. This results in more economic use of concentrates, optimum birth weights and good lamb viability, and allows early identification of ewes at risk of Twin Lamb Disease. Protein feeding in late pregnancy has a significant effect on milk production and therefore lamb health and growth rate. Blood testing will monitor both the longer-term aspects of protein nutrition, and the more immediate question of rumen degradable protein shortages, which are increasingly common in housed sheep.
Blood sampling should be done 2-3 weeks before lambing is due to start so that dietary changes can be made in time. The lab. Fees for testing up to 20 ewes are only £85(including post, packing and interpretation). Magnesium and copper tests are included in this package.
Schmallenberg Virus
This virus has now been reported on four sheep farms in Norfolk, Suffolk and East Sussex. Congenital defects have been seen in aborted and newborn lambs, calves and goat kids. Affected animals have had twisted joints, limbs and neck and are usually born dead or die soon afterwards. Some animals have shown signs of in coordination, paralysis and dullness due to fluid filled sacs in the brain. In adult cattle, fever and reduced milk yield of up to 50% for a week has been reported, in some cases with severe diarrhoea. If you have animals with the suspicious signs on your farm please contact us at the surgery or AHVLA.
Orf Vaccine
If Orf is a problem on your farm now is the time to consider vaccination. We have been informed by the manufacturers of the vaccine, Scabivax Forte, that there are no supply problems this year. The vaccine should only be used if there is a history of Orf on the farm. The vaccine is administered by a special applicator which scratches the skin and injects. A scab should be formed at the site of vaccination within 14 days – if not then they may have not been vaccinated correctly.
In an infected flock, pregnant ewes should be vaccinated not less than 7-8 weeks prior to lambing. If only baby lambs are vaccinated there is a small risk of spread to un-vaccinated ewes. If Orf is a problem in older lambs they can be vaccinated at turnout, or even later. Immunity lasts 6-8 months so the flock should then continue to be vaccinated once a year. The vaccine costs £27.27 + VAT for 50 doses (includes 10% pay at time discount).
Alamycin LA
If you have not vaccinated your ewes against Enzootic Abortion and have had the problem diagnosed in your flock, Alamycin LA can be given between day 90 and 120 of gestation to reduce the number of abortions and shedding of the organism. The dose is 1ml/10kg and a 100ml bottle costs £11.54 +VAT. There is a 10% discount for payment at the time, with larger discounts applied for the purchase of greater volumes.
Tuesday, 17 January 2012
Farm First Newsletter January 2012
ARE COWS THIN BECAUSE THEY ARE LAME, OR LAME BECAUSE THEY ARE THIN?
So which do you think is correct?! A recently reported study by Bicalho and colleagues from Cornell used ultrasound to measure the thickness of the digital cushion, which is the pad of fat between the pedal bone above and the horn of the sole below.
They scanned 500 cows and found at high correlation between
1. the fat pad thickness and the presence of sole ulcers and white line abscesses (thin fat pad gave more disease)
2. fat pad thickness and body condition score – thin cows had thinner fat pads
3. fat pad thickness and stage of lactation. By 120 days the fat pad was at its thinnest (as were most cows) and hoof lameness at its highest.
This does not mean that changes around calving are no longer thought to be important. The poorer suspension (and subsequent increased movement) of the pedal bone inside the hoof just before and just after calving increases the risk of coriosis and this leads to the subsequent production of defective horn. A thinner fat pad exacerbates these effects.
Conclusions – take extra care over the comfort of your cows around calving (and yes, thin cows get more lameness!). We at last seem to be getting away from the obsession by some that lameness is primarily a dietary problem (although it is accepted that acidosis can lead to low biotin and subsequently increased lameness). In fact the authors concluded that diet can at most be only a contributory factor in most herds, although they did acknowledge that high yielding cows would lose more weight, lose more thickness of the fat pad and then develop more lamenesss.
Use of Elastrator Rings in Calves
Recent submissions to AHVLA regional laboratories indicate that the illegal practice of applying rubber elastrator rings to the scrotum, particularly of purchased, entire calves aged over seven days, is occurring. Legislation prohibits the application of a rubber ring or other device to constrict the flow of blood to the scrotum of cattle older than seven days of age. The Veterinary Surgeons Act (1966) allows persons over the age of 18 (17 for supervised animal husbandry students) to carry out castrations on calves less than two months of age using for example a burdizzo. Only a veterinary surgeon can carry out castrations in calves over two months of age and an anaesthetic must be used. In all cases the procedure used must minimise the pain and suffering to the animal, be performed in good hygiene conditions, and in accordance with best practice.
In addition to the practice being illegal, it is likely that the calves which had the elastrator rings applied at greater than seven days of age would have been subjected to prolonged discomfort which would have reduced growth rates, and increased their susceptibility to disease.
New bovine and ovine illness in Germany and Holland
What appears to be a new virus has been discovered in the North Rhein Westphalia district of the west of Germany, and in Holland. It has been named Schmallenberg virus after the small town where it was first discovered.The virus was originally seen in cattle, from August to October, when it caused a moderate fever, with temperatures up to 40 degrees centigrade, inappetance, loss of condition, diarrhoea in some cases, and a drop in milk yield of up to 50%. All the cattle recovered, BUT there is a considerable sting in the tale in that in the last few weeks, many of the affected cattle have either aborted, or had stillborn calves. Typically these calves have limb deformities, stiff limbs, crooked necks, sometimes a twisted spine, or hydrocephalus. Numerous calves born alive to affected cows have failed to live longer than a day or two. They have severe brain damage and appear to be “Dummies”, which are unable to suck.
At the same time, there have been numerous reports of similarly deformed lambs being born, mainly in Holland, again put down to Schmallenberg disease. Research is at a very early stage and the virus has yet to be isolated, but DNA sequencing shows it to be an orthobunyavirus. In Australia, the best known of these viruses is spread by midges, but it is yet to be shown whether this will happen in this case.
If you have any lambs or calves born with these typical deformities, AHVLA are interested in sampling affected animals. Equally, if you're experiencing unusually high levels of abortion in either cattle or sheep please contact us to discuss how we should investigate, for either this or more common causes of the problem.MeetingsFarming Connect are sponsoring a meeting to be held on 19 January at 7:30 pm. Subject of the evening's discussions is “Lameness in sheep, the causes, treatment and prevention”. Please contact us nearer the time for details of the venue.
Anyway hope you all had a good Xmas and wishing you all a prosperous 2012!
ARE COWS THIN BECAUSE THEY ARE LAME, OR LAME BECAUSE THEY ARE THIN?
So which do you think is correct?! A recently reported study by Bicalho and colleagues from Cornell used ultrasound to measure the thickness of the digital cushion, which is the pad of fat between the pedal bone above and the horn of the sole below.
They scanned 500 cows and found at high correlation between
1. the fat pad thickness and the presence of sole ulcers and white line abscesses (thin fat pad gave more disease)
2. fat pad thickness and body condition score – thin cows had thinner fat pads
3. fat pad thickness and stage of lactation. By 120 days the fat pad was at its thinnest (as were most cows) and hoof lameness at its highest.
This does not mean that changes around calving are no longer thought to be important. The poorer suspension (and subsequent increased movement) of the pedal bone inside the hoof just before and just after calving increases the risk of coriosis and this leads to the subsequent production of defective horn. A thinner fat pad exacerbates these effects.
Conclusions – take extra care over the comfort of your cows around calving (and yes, thin cows get more lameness!). We at last seem to be getting away from the obsession by some that lameness is primarily a dietary problem (although it is accepted that acidosis can lead to low biotin and subsequently increased lameness). In fact the authors concluded that diet can at most be only a contributory factor in most herds, although they did acknowledge that high yielding cows would lose more weight, lose more thickness of the fat pad and then develop more lamenesss.
Use of Elastrator Rings in Calves
Recent submissions to AHVLA regional laboratories indicate that the illegal practice of applying rubber elastrator rings to the scrotum, particularly of purchased, entire calves aged over seven days, is occurring. Legislation prohibits the application of a rubber ring or other device to constrict the flow of blood to the scrotum of cattle older than seven days of age. The Veterinary Surgeons Act (1966) allows persons over the age of 18 (17 for supervised animal husbandry students) to carry out castrations on calves less than two months of age using for example a burdizzo. Only a veterinary surgeon can carry out castrations in calves over two months of age and an anaesthetic must be used. In all cases the procedure used must minimise the pain and suffering to the animal, be performed in good hygiene conditions, and in accordance with best practice.
In addition to the practice being illegal, it is likely that the calves which had the elastrator rings applied at greater than seven days of age would have been subjected to prolonged discomfort which would have reduced growth rates, and increased their susceptibility to disease.
New bovine and ovine illness in Germany and Holland
What appears to be a new virus has been discovered in the North Rhein Westphalia district of the west of Germany, and in Holland. It has been named Schmallenberg virus after the small town where it was first discovered.The virus was originally seen in cattle, from August to October, when it caused a moderate fever, with temperatures up to 40 degrees centigrade, inappetance, loss of condition, diarrhoea in some cases, and a drop in milk yield of up to 50%. All the cattle recovered, BUT there is a considerable sting in the tale in that in the last few weeks, many of the affected cattle have either aborted, or had stillborn calves. Typically these calves have limb deformities, stiff limbs, crooked necks, sometimes a twisted spine, or hydrocephalus. Numerous calves born alive to affected cows have failed to live longer than a day or two. They have severe brain damage and appear to be “Dummies”, which are unable to suck.
At the same time, there have been numerous reports of similarly deformed lambs being born, mainly in Holland, again put down to Schmallenberg disease. Research is at a very early stage and the virus has yet to be isolated, but DNA sequencing shows it to be an orthobunyavirus. In Australia, the best known of these viruses is spread by midges, but it is yet to be shown whether this will happen in this case.
If you have any lambs or calves born with these typical deformities, AHVLA are interested in sampling affected animals. Equally, if you're experiencing unusually high levels of abortion in either cattle or sheep please contact us to discuss how we should investigate, for either this or more common causes of the problem.MeetingsFarming Connect are sponsoring a meeting to be held on 19 January at 7:30 pm. Subject of the evening's discussions is “Lameness in sheep, the causes, treatment and prevention”. Please contact us nearer the time for details of the venue.
Anyway hope you all had a good Xmas and wishing you all a prosperous 2012!
Monday, 5 December 2011
Farm First Newsletter December 2011
Conception Rates in the Dairy Herd
Conception rates (CR) in dairy cows have fallen from 50% to 25% over the past 25 years. Factors which affect CR include bull fertility, accuracy of heat detection (a cow served at the wrong time will not conceive), and semen handling. Research has shown that 90% of cows served correctly when on heat will be carrying a live embryo 7 days later, but approx. 55% of these will subsequently die. If this occurs at day 6-16 it is seen as a return to heat, after this it will be seen as an irregular heat or an abortion. So, as early embryonic death is a major cause of the low conception rates we currently see, what can we do about it? We know that low progesterone levels are associated with embryo loss by several mechanisms, so we need to manage cows in ways to keep their progesterone levels high. Liver blood flow in lactating cows is 40% higher than in dry cows, and it rises by a further 20-30% after feeding. As more blood filters through the liver, blood progesterone levels fall by 30%. If the feeding interval is extended or extra large meals are fed there will be an even greater rise in liver blood flow, and fall in blood progesterone, reducing the likelihood of producing and maintaining viable embryos.
To avoid a negative effect on progesterone concentration cows should eat a meal every 2 to 2½ hours or 10 meals a day, each comprising of 2 to 2.5kg of DM. This requires good levels of cow comfort to allow the cow to express normal patterns of behaviour. This means adequate nutrition, feed access, ventilation, light, water, feed push-ups, good mobility, correct stocking density and only short periods away for milking (1hour).Patterns of cow behaviour are established early in lactation, so good transition cow management is vital.
Mobility Scoring
Many of our dairy clients have contracts with their milk buyers which require them to have Locomotion Scoring done by an independent person. We can now offer you this service at a cost of £35 per hour (+visit), and it will be carried out by Simeon or Ferenc, our TB testing vets. A summary report will be provided following the visit. The scoring can be carried out at an afternoon milking, when the vet will want to see all the cows on their way into, or out of the collecting yard or milking parlour. If you are interested in this service please ring us to discuss a suitable time and date.
Agger’s Proliver – Treatment for Fatty Liver Disease
We have a new product on the shelf designed for the prevention and treatment of Fatty Liver Disease. This is commonly seen in dairy cows, usually within a week of calving, when too much fat has accumulated in the liver. This impairs liver function and these cows lose condition rapidly and may be unresponsive to treatment of other diseases. It is often seen in “runs”. Agger’s Pro-liver contains mono-propylene glycol as an energy source, vitamins, enzymes and minerals which support liver function, promote fluid intake and provide energy. The product comes as a drench and costs £7.14 +vat per bottle. The suggested protocol is 1 bottle every 12 hours for 4 days, for 2 days before calving, to 2 days after calving. If handling is an issue, 1 bottle administered every 12 hrs for 2 days will significantly benefit the cow. For cows with Fatty Liver disease one bottle should be given every 12 hours along with half a bottle of Agger’s Glycerol.
Kling on Blue – Long Acting Footbath for Sheep
This is now available in an easy-to-mix form which is ready in minutes. The product contains copper sulphate, zinc sulphate and organic acid in thick solution which sticks to the foot, and gives increased zinc penetration to the hoof. It is effective in the control of scald, footrot and CODD. As the solution sticks to the foot, sheep only need to be bathed once for scald, 1-3 times for footrot, and once weekly for CODD, for a minimum of 3 times. Good footbathing facilities are required for any treatment to work well. Ideally sheep should walk through a bath of clean water first. One 7kg bucket costs £60 + vat will mix into 120 litres of footbath, and is sufficient to treat 250 sheep once. The costs drops to £55+ vat if 2 or more buckets are purchased at once.
Closamectin Pour-On
Although we do not often promote the use of combination products (a targeted approach to parasite control is better), this is the time of year when there is a place for this combined flukicide and wormer. The closantel in it will kill adult fluke and immature fluke from 7 weeks of age, and the ivermectin is effective against most worms, lice and mange. Beef cattle can be treated at housing, but may need a second dose if housed early, or if pasture contamination is high. If outwintered, a treatment should be given in late autumn and possibly repeated in early January. The withdrawal time is 28 days for meat, and it can be used in dairy cattle which are more than 60 days away from calving.
Farming Connect Meetings
We have been approached by Farming Connect to give a series of talks at meetings in this area. The first of these is on the topical subject of “Pneumonia in Cattle –Causes, Control and Prevention”, and will be held at Alice Springs Golf Club on 8th December at 7.30 pm. The subject of the following one will be “Lameness in Sheep”, to be held on 18th January.
Merry Christmas
Finally, we would like to wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. The opening times over the holiday season are as follows:”
Friday 23rd December- office closes 1pm.
Monday 26th December – office closed.
Tuesday 27th December – office closed.
Wednesday 28th and Thursday 29th - normal office hours
Friday 29th December – office closes 1 pm.
Monday 2nd January – office closed.
Tuesday 3rd January – normal opening hours resume.
During the holiday period we will of course provide our normal 24 hour emergency cover. If you require drugs urgently (that is veterinary drugs!) during the holiday period please ring the emergency number and the duty vet will arrange for them to be dispensed.
Conception Rates in the Dairy Herd
Conception rates (CR) in dairy cows have fallen from 50% to 25% over the past 25 years. Factors which affect CR include bull fertility, accuracy of heat detection (a cow served at the wrong time will not conceive), and semen handling. Research has shown that 90% of cows served correctly when on heat will be carrying a live embryo 7 days later, but approx. 55% of these will subsequently die. If this occurs at day 6-16 it is seen as a return to heat, after this it will be seen as an irregular heat or an abortion. So, as early embryonic death is a major cause of the low conception rates we currently see, what can we do about it? We know that low progesterone levels are associated with embryo loss by several mechanisms, so we need to manage cows in ways to keep their progesterone levels high. Liver blood flow in lactating cows is 40% higher than in dry cows, and it rises by a further 20-30% after feeding. As more blood filters through the liver, blood progesterone levels fall by 30%. If the feeding interval is extended or extra large meals are fed there will be an even greater rise in liver blood flow, and fall in blood progesterone, reducing the likelihood of producing and maintaining viable embryos.
To avoid a negative effect on progesterone concentration cows should eat a meal every 2 to 2½ hours or 10 meals a day, each comprising of 2 to 2.5kg of DM. This requires good levels of cow comfort to allow the cow to express normal patterns of behaviour. This means adequate nutrition, feed access, ventilation, light, water, feed push-ups, good mobility, correct stocking density and only short periods away for milking (1hour).Patterns of cow behaviour are established early in lactation, so good transition cow management is vital.
Mobility Scoring
Many of our dairy clients have contracts with their milk buyers which require them to have Locomotion Scoring done by an independent person. We can now offer you this service at a cost of £35 per hour (+visit), and it will be carried out by Simeon or Ferenc, our TB testing vets. A summary report will be provided following the visit. The scoring can be carried out at an afternoon milking, when the vet will want to see all the cows on their way into, or out of the collecting yard or milking parlour. If you are interested in this service please ring us to discuss a suitable time and date.
Agger’s Proliver – Treatment for Fatty Liver Disease
We have a new product on the shelf designed for the prevention and treatment of Fatty Liver Disease. This is commonly seen in dairy cows, usually within a week of calving, when too much fat has accumulated in the liver. This impairs liver function and these cows lose condition rapidly and may be unresponsive to treatment of other diseases. It is often seen in “runs”. Agger’s Pro-liver contains mono-propylene glycol as an energy source, vitamins, enzymes and minerals which support liver function, promote fluid intake and provide energy. The product comes as a drench and costs £7.14 +vat per bottle. The suggested protocol is 1 bottle every 12 hours for 4 days, for 2 days before calving, to 2 days after calving. If handling is an issue, 1 bottle administered every 12 hrs for 2 days will significantly benefit the cow. For cows with Fatty Liver disease one bottle should be given every 12 hours along with half a bottle of Agger’s Glycerol.
Kling on Blue – Long Acting Footbath for Sheep
This is now available in an easy-to-mix form which is ready in minutes. The product contains copper sulphate, zinc sulphate and organic acid in thick solution which sticks to the foot, and gives increased zinc penetration to the hoof. It is effective in the control of scald, footrot and CODD. As the solution sticks to the foot, sheep only need to be bathed once for scald, 1-3 times for footrot, and once weekly for CODD, for a minimum of 3 times. Good footbathing facilities are required for any treatment to work well. Ideally sheep should walk through a bath of clean water first. One 7kg bucket costs £60 + vat will mix into 120 litres of footbath, and is sufficient to treat 250 sheep once. The costs drops to £55+ vat if 2 or more buckets are purchased at once.
Closamectin Pour-On
Although we do not often promote the use of combination products (a targeted approach to parasite control is better), this is the time of year when there is a place for this combined flukicide and wormer. The closantel in it will kill adult fluke and immature fluke from 7 weeks of age, and the ivermectin is effective against most worms, lice and mange. Beef cattle can be treated at housing, but may need a second dose if housed early, or if pasture contamination is high. If outwintered, a treatment should be given in late autumn and possibly repeated in early January. The withdrawal time is 28 days for meat, and it can be used in dairy cattle which are more than 60 days away from calving.
Farming Connect Meetings
We have been approached by Farming Connect to give a series of talks at meetings in this area. The first of these is on the topical subject of “Pneumonia in Cattle –Causes, Control and Prevention”, and will be held at Alice Springs Golf Club on 8th December at 7.30 pm. The subject of the following one will be “Lameness in Sheep”, to be held on 18th January.
Merry Christmas
Finally, we would like to wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. The opening times over the holiday season are as follows:”
Friday 23rd December- office closes 1pm.
Monday 26th December – office closed.
Tuesday 27th December – office closed.
Wednesday 28th and Thursday 29th - normal office hours
Friday 29th December – office closes 1 pm.
Monday 2nd January – office closed.
Tuesday 3rd January – normal opening hours resume.
During the holiday period we will of course provide our normal 24 hour emergency cover. If you require drugs urgently (that is veterinary drugs!) during the holiday period please ring the emergency number and the duty vet will arrange for them to be dispensed.
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